Reactor operator vs certified medical technician

The differences between reactor operators and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a reactor operator, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a reactor operator has an average salary of $40,533, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a reactor operator include personnel safety, plant operations and nuclear reactor. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Reactor operator vs certified medical technician overview

	Reactor Operator	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$40,533	$38,859
Hourly rate	$19.49	$18.68
Growth rate	-15%	5%
Number of jobs	30,994	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	46	44
Years of experience	4	12

Reactor operator vs certified medical technician salary

Reactor operators and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Reactor Operator	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$40,533	$38,859
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $59,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	-	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between reactor operator and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a reactor operator and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Reactor Operator	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Electrical Engineering	Nursing
Most common college	Texas A&M University	University of Connecticut

Reactor operator vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between reactor operators' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Reactor Operator	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	46	44
Gender ratio	Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 1.5% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%	Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	5%	8%

Differences between reactor operator and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Reactor operator example responsibilities.

Operate batch and continuous type reactors, high-pressure reactors, centrifuges, filters and solvent distillation equipment.
Coordinate a team of operators and contractors performing leak rate testing (LLRT) within a 17-day outage window.
Monitor, and adjust: modulation, frequency, audio, and antenna current in compliance with FCC regulations.
Maintain and perform troubleshooting on CD/DVD replication equipment.
Operate heavy machinery such as bobcat equipment and also operate and pave asphalt perform demolition work.
Participate in project teams for critical on-line system outages or refueling outages.

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.

Reactor operator vs certified medical technician skills

Common reactor operator skills

Personnel Safety, 11%
Plant Operations, 8%
Nuclear Reactor, 6%
Control Room, 6%
Corrective Maintenance, 5%
NRC, 4%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Reactor Operator vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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